Pope Eased Into Premier League Life

Sean Dyche has confirmed that Nick Pope is beginning to learn his Premier League trade after being promoted to the bench in recent weeks.

The towering goalkeeper, who joined the club from Charlton Athletic last summer, has been restricted to just four starts in cup competitions, with Paul Robinson acting as back-up in league fixtures.

However, Pope has been preferred as back-up in the last three top-flight games, at home to Stoke City and in the games at Middlesbrough and Everton.

Dyche said: “I’ve said all along that Nick is a development-style keeper. He’s in front of that, but what I mean is in terms of Premier League-level.

“I knew, over the season, it was a plan to ease him into the team and get used to what it all is and that’s why we’ve made the change.

“Robbo has been fantastic though and his mentality is great. At Everton, and last week, he has been helping us from the bench and giving us information from up in the stands. He’s still got a part to play, that’s for sure.”

The Clarets are back at Turf Moor this weekend, hosting Manchester United, after a defeat in a hugely encouraging display at Goodison Park left them still searching for that elusive away victory.

But Dyche’s men still hold an eight-point gap over 18th placed Swansea City, with just five Premier League games remaining.

The gaffer reflected: “We feel that our performance levels are right, and the details within that are important.

“We are very close to what we want to achieve in the bigger picture and I don’t think if we look, away from Burnley, that many people expected us to go to Everton and win.

“I think people if you were a neutral, you would have thought we were a side that had won away this season, given that kind of performance.

“But it was always going to be a tough ask, so I am pleased with the mentality of the players.

“We just have to keep on tidying up those pieces at either end of the pitch because they are vital.”

Fans are reminded that Sunday’s Turf Moor clash with Manchester United is a sell-out.